A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews! I know it was kinda harsh to end on a cliff hanger (literally), but I think that only makes you all want to read this more, yes?

As always, I don't own Inuyasha...

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A grimace of displeasure rolled across Sesshomaru's usually stoic face as the echo of his half brother's cries rang in his ears seconds after they had stopped. Although he wanted to move, to jump down after his brother and save him, his feet were frozen to the spot as his conscience caught up with him.

I have just hurled my little brother to his doom.

He shook his head and watched as his silver tresses reflected the moon's beams with a sheen like that of a pearl. A soft breeze began to blow, yet Sesshomaru made no motion to show that the cool zephyr had caressed his face even as his hair and kimono danced along in its current. With a heavy hand, the inu youkai reached his right arm to rest upon the fur covering his right shoulder and allowed a sigh to escape his lips.

Little brother, this was the only way. The price is great for this moral girl.

A distant look enterred the demon's eyes as a rather awkward scene unfolded from within his memory bank. Familiar voices, vaguely familiar territories and the wreak of human scents drifted into his mind as he continued to stand into the misty void in which he had hurled Inuyasha.

"What means ye, Lord Sesshomaru?" asked the elderly miko of the village, "Ye means to tell me that a demon may inherit spiritual abilities without being purified?"

The new Lord of the Western Lands made no motion, but continued to speak with the miko as his back remained to her. His voice was clear with unending patience even as it now was wearing thin.

"No, dear Kaede. This demon is a demon that both desires and fears great spiritual powers," he explained once again as he turned his head to the side to observe the woman he had startled as she began her morning rituals. He watched as her face remained drawn in concentration as he spoke, although her eyes were closed. He refused to let the awkwardness of the situation get the best of him as he continued to speak.

"They feed upon untainted spiritual power to return from a false death. They feed upon the powers that the girl possesses."

At this, Kaede's eyes snapped open in understanding and she spoke with urgency, "Ye mean Kagome. The beast is feasting on young Kagome's pure energy even as we speak!"

Kaede raised her eyes, full of a terrified realization, to meet the scrutinizing gaze of the demon before her. Her mind spun with the new found urgency of saving Kagome from her doom. However, she did not miss the rage that danced in his eyes at the term used to describe the evil demon that had afflicted their ally.

"Calm ye, please, Lord Sesshomaru. I did not mean to offend."

"Then I suggest you watch your words, old woman. It would be best not to patronize me."

Sesshomaru turned his gaze to the line of trees in the distance and carelessly assessed the scents of small woodlands creatures that flitted in the tree tops. He could hear the frenzied quarrel between two famished squirrels even as the priestess began her line of questions once again.

"Is there no way her life can be spared, then, Sesshomaru?"

He turned with a flourish of fabric and a soft clang of the Tenseiga shifting within its sheath. His footsteps were deliberate, albeit slow, as he approached Kaede to talk in a much softer tone and at a much lower volume. There were few that new the way to destroy a spiritual demon and there were few that would also be crazy enough to complete the task.

"You must return to the remains of this demon. Go back and lay a hand on the still living bones even as they rest motionless in their place," he answered as the wind rippled the leaves of a nearby bush causing a nervous energy to fill his body, but he continued, "You must then take a fang from the beast and spill your blood to offer as an alternative to the energy it is already absorbing. Only then can the girl be spared."

Kaede nervously watched the youkai's actions before her as she comprehended the requirements to spare Kagome's life.

"Does that then mean that the one who attempts to save her life will lose theirs in her place? Ye be telling me that there is no sure way to end this demon's reign of terror?"

A daunting chuckle left his lips as he began to walk away, but still he responded.

"Ordinarily, yes. Unless the one who makes the sacrifice is unaware that they will be giving up their life," he paused his steps as he smiled faintly and turned to Kaede, "This individual will also suffer greatly both emotionally and physically. No ordinary human can withstand this trial."

Kaede's face lightened a bit in understanding at the implications of the demon lord's suggestion.

"May I be right in assuming that a half demon would fair better under this trial?"

Another faint glimmer of a smile leaked from the demon's features as he nodded to the priestess and again began to walk.

"Yes, a half demon is best for this type of challenge. And one that is motivated by untainted thoughts of love will defeat this monstrous demon and prevent it from attacking anyone ever again."

"Don't fail her, Inuyasha."

And with those words freed from his mouth, Sesshomaru turned away from the embankment and walked his road of solitude once more.

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Drops of water splashed into a small pool of water sending echoes ricocheting up the walls into the mists swirling above the young man's head. Dark spots danced in and out of his vision, threatening to overcome all of his dulled senses. Off in the distance, a wild flower dropped its dew heavy face to view itself in the small pond like a looking glass. Inuyasha forced himself to see only one flower instead of the two that it more frequently became.

What the hell just happened?

His hair was damp and he was certain that it wasn't only from the damp earth that cradled his now battered body. He forced his head forward and found himself, after a bit of foggy thinking, to be flat on his back on top of a rather smooth pile of rocks. With much effort, Inuyasha forced himself into a sitting position; he panted as his broken rib stole his breath, but he soon realized that that was now the least of his worries.

A trembling hand moved slowly, tentatively even, to the back of his head where a warm, dull ache was now residing. His worst fears were realized as he forced his eyes to focus on the palm of his hand that was stained with his scarlet blood.

Well isn't that just great...

"At least now I know why I can't see straight," he began in an attempt to keep himself company.

He surveyed his surroundings, twisting his head slowly from one thing to the next to prevent the wave of nausea that was following his movements from taking control. No matter where he looked, he could only make out more fog and occasionally a few small flowers twisted among the rocks surrounding him. It was obvious to him that he was sitting in the basin of an overused rock quarry.

"I can't be that far from the village if I'm where I think I am," he offered himself. AFterall, it was his hope and his determination to help Kagome that had been pushing him to move on.

Kagome. Hold on, Kagome. I'm almost home.

A new sense of urgency and strength surged within Inuyasha at the thought of his miko. He could feel the ache in his chest, head and...was that his leg burning now too?...beginning to dim with just the image of her angelic face. He could feel a new found resolve bubbling his way through his muscles, urging him to continue, with the thought of her whole hearted smile.

The hanyou pushed himself to his hands and knees, ignoring everything but the image of his Kagome that was beckoning him home. He ignored the warm liquid dripping through his now tangled tresses. He pushed away the short, sharp breaths that got caught under his ribcage and tried to rack his body with pain. He looked up, focusing on the path that he knew led to the riverbed and the dirt path just beyond that led to Kaede's village. She was there. He could see her coaxing him--willing him--to get up and come to her.

He reached out a hand in her direction, "Kagome."

He began to stand as her image began to fade before his eyes.

It...She's not real? Kagome...

"Kagome! Wait!"

He took a shaky step forward towards the now ghost like image of his one true...

He caught himself. He caught the word that floated on the tip of his tongue, but refused to tumble from his lips before he realized the full weight of it himself. He could feel the curl sneaking its way upon his features, settling in his eyes and on his lips, as he thought about what he was about to say.

I-I love...

"I love her."

He took a step forward as his angel, his mind's creation, disappeared into the swirling mists of the basin and he cried out in pain. Suddenly, he watched as the ground began rushing up to meet him and with a deafening THWACK, his side met the earth once more. In that instant, all of his pain and anguish returned and he could feel the hot sting of tears beginning to form in his chocolate brown eyes.

"I need...to get to you...Kagome."

He curled up, balling his fists in front of his eyes and allowed his pain to consume him. Gray and brown stones began to swirl violently together with the mist as he felt nausea and fatigue trying to consume him. He struggled to keep his emotions under check when the last voice he had expected, or even wanted to hear for that matter, cut through the molasses like fog clouding his mind.

"Is that you, mutt face?"

Oh hell... Kouga?

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A/N: TahDah!! I hope this is starting to make more sense. Obviously, I know where its going. lol.

Anyways, thanks again for reading and...well, you know the drill!

:0D